NO VITAL CHANGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 October 1942, Page 3

NO VITAL CHANGE

IN STALINGRAD BATTLE SHARP LOCAL CLASHES BETWEEN SMALL BODIES OF TROOPS. VIEWS ON OUTLOOK VARY. LONDON, October 14. The battle for Stalingrad shows no vital change. Sharp, brief skirmishes are taking place between small bodies of troops.

The fighting seems to have developed into a number of fierce local clashes. The Germans made a sharp attack on an outlying industrial district without gaining any ground. In some sectors operations are confined to artillery and mortar duels. The Russians are taking advantage of the situation to strengthen their positions. South of Stalingrad the Russians have captured an important enemy post. North-west of the city, the Russians continue to advance between the Don and the Volga. Signs are accumulating that the Russians are beginning to reap the fruits of the heroic defence of Stalingrad, in which they have destroyed much of the German striking power and deducted invaluable weeks from Hitler’s campaigning season. It is now almost two months since the Germans began to develop the pincer movement against Stalingrad from the north-west and from Koteinikovo. The Stockholm correspondent of “The Times” says, however, that the latest news indicates, that the Germans are preparing for what they believe or hope will be really the final assault against Stalingrad, which remains a threatening bridgehead against the German winter line. In the Caucasus -there is increased enemy activity. The Germans suffered heavily in the fighting round Novorossisk. In the Mozdok area the Russians advanced slightly after a threeday battle. Five enemy transports have been sunk by the Soviet Baltic Fleet,